Pennsylvanians have cast their votes under unprecedented conditions. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd, a brand new statewide mail-in voting system and a last-minute deadline extension, Tuesday’s primary election was unlike any voters have seen before. It’s also a test for November.
Will people feel safe voting in person? Will mail-in ballots arrive as expected? Will an ongoing pandemic impact who has a say at the polls?
Our team checked in with voters across Allegheny County to hear their thoughts and concerns. Many voters said things went smoothly. Others expressed confusion over polling sites or concerns about personal safety during a pandemic. And we went to experts and officials, too, to hear how they think Tuesday’s primary should inform voting in fall’s general election.
We hope that our coverage is more than a recap. We hope it can help inform residents and leaders alike on what went well, what didn’t and how we can ensure that our elections are fair and safe, even as we grapple with ongoing inequities and COVID-19.
—Jeff Benzing, assistant editor
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